Portable desk



May 21, 1963 c. A. BEST 3,090,330 PORTABLE DESK Filed April 5, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet l /-7g. 4 7 23\ l 7 T 29 33 22 2/ 32 -41 llll 34 E 23. 22 45 4 Clarence A. Best 1 N VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,090,330 PORTABLE DESK Clarence A. Best, P.O. Box341, New Albany, Ind. Filed Apr. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 185,414 3 Claims.(Cl. 108-43) This invention relates to new and useful improvements inportable desks and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a device of this character which is adapted -tobe carried on the body in a position for convenient use at all times.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide aportable desk of the aforementioned character which may be expeditiouslyand compactly folded in a novel manner when it is not being used.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvedportable, folding desk of the character described which is adapted tocarry for the convenience of the user a pencil, pen, notebook andperhaps various other articles of stationery.

Other objects of the invention are .to provide a portable, folding deskof the character set forth which is comparatively simple inconstruction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight, attractive inappearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, showing a portable desk embodying thepresent invention unfolded and ready for use;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view, showing the desk in folded position onthe body of the user;

FIGURE 3 is a view in front elevation, showing the desk after the firststep in the opening operation has been completed;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section on an enlargedscale, taken substantially on the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a view in front elevation of the device, showing same inopen or unfolded position with a portion broken away; and

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line6-6 of FIGURE 5.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises asubstantially rectangular vertical plate 7 of suitable material,preferably Wood. The plate 7, which may also be of any desireddimensions, is adapted to be suspended in front of the body of the user,as indicated at 8. Toward this end, one end of an inelastic neck strap 9is secured to the upper end of the body plate 7 adjacent one of thevertical edges thereof, as indicated at 10. The other end portion of theneck strap 9 is adapted to be adjustably connected to the upper end ofthe plate 7 adjacent the other vertical edge thereof through the mediumof a suitable buckle 11 on said plate. An elastic body-encircling strap12 has one end connected at 13 to one of the vertical edges of the bodyplate 7 adjacent the lower end thereof. The other or free end of theelastic strap 12 is provided with a snap hook .14 which is engageablewith a loop 15 on the other vertical edge of the plate 7.

Secured at 16 for rotation on the lower front portion of the body plate7 is a turntable or disk '17 of wood or other suitable material. Themarginal or peripheral portion of the disk 17 is operable in guides inthe form of cleats 18 and 19 which are secured at right angles to each3,090,330 Patented May 21, 1963 other on the lower end portion and oneof the marginal side portions of the plate 7. The faces of the cleats 18and 19 which abut the plate 7 are rabbeted as indicated at 20 toaccommodate the peripheral portion of the disk 17.

Fixedly mounted tangentially on the periphery of the disk 17 is a bar 21which also is of wood or other suitable material. Hingedly secured as at22 on the bar 21 is a rectangular top or panel 23 providing a writingsurface or support. The members 7 and 23 are of substantially the samedimensions. Mounted on the free end of the top or writing panel 23 is aheaded pin 24. An elastic tab 25 is provided on the marginal portion ofthe plate 7 which carries the cleat 19, said tab being engageable withthe pin 24 for securing the desk in folded or closed position as shownin FIGURE 2 of the drawing. Hingedly secured at 26 on the underside ofthe top or writing panel 23, is a wire prop, brace or leg 27. The freeend portion of the foldable leg 27 is engageable in a notch 28 providedtherefor in the upper edge of the cleat 18 for retaining said leg inopen or operative position.

Also mounted on the underside of the top or writing panel 23 is atransversely extending cleat or the like 29 having openings 30 thereinwhich accommodate writing instruments 32 which are removably mounted inan elastic holder or strap 32 on said top or writing panel 23. The cleat29 is also provided with a notch or recess 33 which accommodates the leg27 when said leg is folded. Also affixed to the top or writing panel 23is a cleat or bar 34 which is flush with the free longitudinal edge ofsaid top 23. The members 29 and 34 are adapted to abut the plate 7 andfunction as spacers for the upper portions of said plate and the member23 when the device is folded as in FIGURE 2 of the drawing.

It is thought that the use of the desk will be readily apparent from aconsideration of the foregoing. Briefly, with the device closed as inFIGURE 2 of the drawing, the elastic tab 25 is disengaged from the pin24 and the panel 23 is swung laterally to open position as seen inFIGURE 3 of the drawing. The panel 23 is then swung clockwise with thedisk 17 until the bar 21 comes to rest on the upper end of the cleat 19as shown in FIGURE 5 of the drawing. Then, the panel 23. is swungdownwardly to a substantially horizontal position (FIGURE 6) and the leg27 is engaged in the notch 28 for supporting said panel in saidhorizontal position on the cleat 18. When the device is in closed orfolded position the members 7 and 23, in addition to writing instrumentsas indicated at 3 1, are adapted to receive and retain therebetween anotebook and other articles. When the panel 23 is in the positions ofFIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawing, counterclockwise turning of said panelis prevented by the engagement of one end portion of the now verticalbar 21 with the opposed end of the lower cleat 18, said bar 21 beingrecessed as indicated at 35 to receive said cleat.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed. For example, the plate 7 may, if desired, be of metal ofsufiicient thickness to serve as a protector or shield against bullets.A bullet will penetrate the panel 23 before being stopped by the plate7. Then, by measuring the diameter of the hole left in the panel 23 thecaliber of the bullet may be determined.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable desk comprising a substantially vertical body plate, meansfor securing said plate on the body of a user, a vertical diskrotatablymounted on said plate in parallelism therewith, a writing panel hingedlymounted on the disk for swinging movement to a substantially horizontaloperative position, means torsupporting said panel in said operativeposition, andmear s for limiting rotation of the disk and the panelthereon in opposite directions, the last-named means including cleatsmounted on the plate at rightangles to each other with one end in thepath of the panel for engagement thereby.

2. The combination of claim 1, said cleats having rabbets thereinrotatably receiving the peripheral portion of the disk. I

3. The combination of claim 2, the first-named means comprising a leghingedly mounted on the panel and engageable with the plate and one ofthe cleats;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS BellMay 23, 1882 Abbott .2 June 7, 1887 Keck May 8, 1906 Morde June 16, 1925Conrad Aug. 30, 1927 Folmer June 14, 1932 Kruse Feb. 21, 1950 HermanDec. 24, 1957 Wadsworth Dec. 2, 1958 Noland Nov. 21, 1961 FOREIGNPATENTS France June 28, 1961

1. A PORTABLE DESK COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL BODY PLATE, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID PLATE ON THE BODY OF A USER, A VERTICAL DISK ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID PLATE IN PARALLELISM THEREWITH, A WRITING PANEL HINGEDLY MOUNTED ON THE DISK FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT TO A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL OPERATIVE POSITION, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID PANEL IN SAID OPERATIVE POSITION, AND MEANS FOR LIMITING ROTATION OF THE DISK AND THE PANEL THEREON IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, THE LAST-NAMED MEANS INCLUDING CLEATS MOUNTED ON THE PLATE AT RIGHT ANGLES TO EACH OTHER WITH ONE END IN THE PATH OF THE PANEL FOR ENGAGEMENT THEREBY. 